The Government should consider building a second airport on the southside of Dublin in order to deal with congestion at the current facility, the chief executive of Aer Arann has said.

Pádraig O'Ceidigh, the main shareholder in the airline, said there was "potential for discussion, an argument and an analysis in relation to an airport in south county Dublin".

Speaking on the Down to Business show on NewsTalk 106 over the weekend, he said: "You could have one [ airport] focusing primarily on transatlantic and long haul, with the other on internal Ireland and Ireland/UK flights. You could split it up like that.

"It is also quite awkward and difficult for people from south Dublin to go right across town and fly out. Very often the driving time takes longer than the flying time."

The Government is considering the controversial issue of expanding facilities at Dublin airport. The issue may surface at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, but Government sources say a final decision is still some way off, with political differences remaining over who should own and operate the facility.

While reluctant to specify a site for such a development, Mr O'Ceidigh said there was one strong possibility. "There are already airports on the southside. Baldonell is a good and effective airport, primarily a military airport. Throughout Europe you have the military on one side and civil aviation working... in and out of the same resources."

However, a second airport in Dublin was not supported by the former Aer Lingus chief executive Willie Walsh, who next week becomes chief executive-designate at British Airways.

"The problem with a second airport is duplication of costs," he said on the radio programme, adding the priority in Dublin should be to keep costs down.